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Home My WebLink About05-07-2018 ARC Minutes - Final Minutes ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION Monday, May 7, 2018 Regular Meeting of the Architectural Review Commission CALL TO ORDER A Regular Meeting of the Architectural Review Commission was called to order on Monday, May 7, 2018 at 5:01 p.m. in the Council Chambers, located at 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Chair Root. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Richard Beller, Brian Rolph (5:02), Christie Withers, Vice-Chair Amy Nemcik, and Chair Allen Root Absent: Commissioners Angela Soll and Micah Smith Staff: Deputy Director Doug Davidson, Associate Planner Rachel Cohen, Assistant Planner Walter Oetzell, and Recording Secretary Summer Aburashed PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA None --End of Public Comment-- PUBLIC HEARINGS 1. Citywide. Review of public art designs and locations proposed for the 2018 Utility Box Art project, which consists of the painting of 26 City-owned traffic signal control boxes at various locations within the public right-of-way throughout the City of San Luis Obispo, with a categorical exemption from environmental review (California Environmental Quality Act [CEQA] Guidelines Section 15301, Existing Facilities) Case #: ARCH-1494- 2018, City of San Luis Obispo Parks and Recreation Department, applicant. Administrative Analyst of the Parks & Recreation Department, Lindsey Stephenson provided a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Commissioner inquiries. Public Comments: James Lopes Minutes – Architectural Review Commission Meeting of May 7, 2018 Page 2 --End of Public Comment-- ACTION: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER BELLER, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WITHERS, CARRIED 5-0-2 to adopt a Resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, FINDING THAT THE PROPOSED PUBLIC ART PROGRAM ENTITLED “2018 UTILITY BOX ART” MEETS THE CITY’S GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC ART FOR 26 UTILITY BOXES LOCATED IN THE RIGHT-OF-WAY CITYWIDE, AND RECOMMENDING THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE “2018 UTILITY BOX ART” PROJECT, AS REPRESENTED IN THE STAFF REPORT AND ATTACHMENTS DATED MAY 7, 2018 (CITYWIDE, ARCH-1494-2018), as presented. 2. 790 Foothill. Review of a new four-story mixed-use project with 6,800 square feet of ground floor commercial/retail space, 78 residential units, and 155 parking spaces. Twelve of the units in the project will be affordable to very-low income households, which allows for a 35% density bonus. Two affordable housing incentives are being requested including the construction of a 43-foot tall structure where 35 feet is normally allowed and an increase in allowable lot coverage from 75% to 90%. The project is both statutorily exempt under Section 15195 and categorically exempt under Class 32, In-Fill Development Projects, Section 15332 of the CEQA Guidelines, Case #: ARCH-1186- 2017, C-C-SF zone; LR Real Estate Investment Group, LCC. Loren Riehl, applicant. Associate Planner Rachel Cohen presented the staff report with the use of a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Commissioner inquiries. Architect Thom Jess and applicant, Laruen Reel provided a presentation and responded to Commissioner inquiries. Public Comments: Anne Brown Odile Ayral Dave Hannings Carolyn Smith David Hafemeista T. Keith Gurnee Genevieve Chech James Lopes Allen Cooper Laura Kirschner Cheryl McLean Larry Shields Laurel Waddell Lydia Mourenza Minutes – Architectural Review Commission Meeting of May 7, 2018 Page 3 Grant Robbins Magnolia Stork --End of Public Comment-- RECESS: The Commission recessed at 6:52 p.m. and reconvened at 7:00 p.m. with all Commissioners present. ACTION: MOTION BY VICE CHAIR NEMCIK, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WITHERS CARRIED 5-0-2 to continue to a date uncertain with the following direction: • Address the massing of the structure in relation to the surrounding views by breaking up the building and providing more articulation. • Provide significant cornice/parapet detailing and articulation. • Break up the structure to reduce the overall bulk of the project and gives the appearance of separate buildings. • Address the blank, poorly articulated walls along Chorro Street and provide a better sense of human scale and proportion; do something special to this façade. • The project should be balanced and in proportion. • Consider ways to reduce the height or the appearance of height; step back the 4th floor. • Design the project to be compatible with the fundamental character of the surrounding neighborhood. • Revise the use of the wood material to the sidewalk; consider the use of a bulkhead made of durable material. • Add accents of color (outside the proposed earth tones) to awnings, doors or other architectural details to add interest. • The project should avoid using corridors to provide access to the units and main entrances to individual units should be from adjoining streets. Distinctive architectural elements and materials should be used to highlight primary entrances. • Provide clear site and elevation sections of the project, with dimensions called out, and show the adjacent structures; show the setback of the project from the adjacent structures. The ARC also provided the following comments: • Suggest City Council look at a different variety of affordable housing options (e.g. 3 two-bedrooms, 3 one-bedrooms, and 2 studios) • Park the project based on reconfigured/split bedrooms. • Consider adding a condition to not allow the division of bedrooms or double doors. 3. 1148 Fernwood. Construction of a new multi-family development containing five 2- bedroom dwelling units, with a categorical exemption from environmental review, Case #: ARCH-1148-2017, R-3, zone; Villas at Fernwood LLC, applicant. Minutes – Architectural Review Commission Meeting of May 7, 2018 Page 4 Assistant Planner Walter Oetzell presented the staff report with the use of a PowerPoint presentation and responded to Commissioner inquiries. Applicant’s representative, Brian Ridley, provided a presentation and responded to Commissioner inquires. Public Comments: Seth Nevschwander Russ Stireman Don Kinney --End of Public Comment-- ACTION: MOTION BY COMMISSIONER ROLPH, SECOND BY COMMISSIONER WITHERS, CARRIED 4-1-2 to adopt a Resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING PLANS FOR A NEW MULTI-FAMILY BUILDING WITH FIVE (5) DWELLING UNITS FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1148 FERNWOOD DRIVE, as presented With the following recommendations: Modify the east building elevation for better compatibility with the adjacent single-family neighborhood. Pull the upper portion of the tall wall feature back about 5 feet or so, to provide better articulation and resolve the awkwardness of the “split gable” feature. This area is only used for loft space, which will facilitate the necessary modification. Create a 3-dimensional rendering of the front (street frontage) of the building to depict its appearance from the street in a more understandable way. Add a condition addressing the selection of tree species that are appropriate to site conditions, as recommended by the City Arborist. COMMENT AND DISCUSSION Deputy Director Davidson provided a brief agenda forecast. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:43 p.m. The next Regular meeting of the Architectural Review Commission is scheduled for Monday, May 21, 2018 at 5:00 p.m., in the Council Hearing Room, 990 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, California. Minutes – Architectural Review Commission Meeting of May 7, 2018 Page 5 APPROVED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW COMMISSION: 06/04/2018